A Second Chance at Crimson Ranch Read Free Page A

dedication.
    â€œIt still does,” he answered.
    Her eyes searched his as if she expected to see something he knew she’d never find. She stood and took a step toward him as if drawn by the same invisible connection he was having trouble ignoring. “Why do you care about this?”
    â€œI don’t.” He took a drink of beer and looked away. “I’m making conversation to stop you from crying.” He forced his lips into a casual smile. “I’ve been away from Crimson for a while, but I’ve still got a reputation to protect. One dance with me and a woman bursts into tears. I don’t think so.”
    That made her smile and the strange charge between them disappeared. “I’ll be sure to tell everyone how that one dance was an amazing, life-altering moment for me.”
    He didn’t know whether to laugh or be offended at her sarcasm. Before he could decide, she lifted onto her toes and brushed a quick kiss across his cheek. “It was nice meeting you, Logan. Thank you for the dance,” she said softly. “I owe Sara for making you ask me.”
    â€œMy sister-in-law didn’t make me do anything.” Suddenly it was important Olivia understand that fact.
    She only smiled over her shoulder and walked out of the restaurant.
    Logan sank into her chair after she’d gone. Her perfume still lingered in the air and he closed his eyes to focus on the expensive floral scent. He’d been back in Crimson for less than a week, enough time to reconnect with his brothers and attend Josh and Sara’s wedding. But already he felt his equilibrium shifting. His reaction to Olivia Wilder tonight was proof of that.
    He needed to get back to his regular life sooner rather than later, which wouldn’t involve an extended stay in his hometown. He’d left that chapter of his life behind long ago.

Chapter Two
    O livia nervously tapped her toe on the floor as she waited in the lobby outside the mayor’s office two days later. She tried to relax, to think of flowery meadows and golden light, but the only image that popped into her mind was Logan Travers’s face as she’d kissed him. As silly as it was, she could still feel the rough stubble of his cheek and smell the woodsy, all-male scent of him. What had possessed her to kiss him as she’d walked away after the reception?
    As innocent as it had been, Olivia had never done anything so forward in her life. Put her mouth on a practical stranger, even a tiny peck. She almost giggled at the absurdly liberating feeling it gave her, which at least served to calm her nerves a bit.
    To him it had probably meant nothing, much like their one dance. He’d been fulfilling an obligation, end of story. Olivia certainly knew a lot about being an obligation.
    No more. That wasn’t how she’d live her life going forward.
    â€œMarshall will see you now.” The new assistant eyed her with a mix of curiosity and sympathy.
    â€œThank you,” Olivia answered and, her nerves fluttering, walked into the office her husband had occupied only months ago.
    Marshall Daley looked at home behind the desk she’d come to think of as Craig’s. He’d been appointed mayor pro tem after Craig resigned and would complete her husband’s term until the next election. Marshall was a lifelong resident of Crimson, a retired insurance salesman and Olivia knew he’d do the right thing for the town as mayor.
    She closed the door and took a seat across from him. “How are things going?”
    He sat back and drew in a long breath. “They’d be a hell of a lot better if your husband hadn’t run off, leaving his responsibilities floating in the breeze.”
    â€œEx-husband,” she clarified. “Almost. I’ve got another few weeks before the divorce is final.”
    â€œAnd you’ve heard nothing from him?”
    She shook her head.
    â€œI was so sure he’d come home